Industries

Tags

The party says it has some concerns about the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA), but on balance it considers the agreement a good deal for Canada.

The Harper government has long accused the NDP of opposing free trade deals generally.

New Democrats say they won’t sign on to any deal without seeing the details.

In the case of the Korean pact, which is now before the House of Commons, the NDP says it will level the playing field with other countries, such as the United States and the European Union (EU), which have their own agreements with Korea.

It will also give Canadian companies a foothold in a key Asian market.

While the New Democrats will vote for the agreement, trade critic Don Davies said an NDP government would have gone for a better deal.

In a statement, he criticized the government for including what he calls an unnecessary dispute settlement mechanism and for failing to win protections for the auto industry.

“Conservatives have been failing our country’s manufacturing sector and must do more to ensure Canada’s automotive sector has the support it needs to succeed in an increasingly competitive global market.”

The Conservatives are touting the deal as a major lift for Canadian companies.

“This agreement is very important to Canada,” Trade Minister Ed Fast told the Commons this week. “It is going to increase our exports by 32 per cent. We expect it to add close to $2 billion of economic activity to our economy.”

Canadianmanufacturing.com is the top source of daily industry-focused news in Canada. We cover the world for stories that impact your business each day with news, in-depth articles and expert commentary.

Cleantech Canada delivers the latest news and insight on the global green economy. Our award-winning editors and expert contributors connect businesses and entrepreneurs with information on cleantech financing, market development and growth strategies.

Find it on Frasers, your home for sourcing industrial suppliers of manufactured products, MRO equipment and components, and so much more.